Parlor baseball game



April 9 G. F. REICHEL 2,075,960

PARLOR BASEBALL GAME Filed Jan. 21, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

AITORNEY-.

April 6, 1937. G. F. REICHEL PARLOR BASEBALL .GAME

, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed'Jan. 21 4 f lL INVENTOR. 7M

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 .UNlTED STTES w sest;

ATENT OFFIQE PARLOR BASEBALL GAME George Frederick Reichel, Milwaukee, Wis. Application January 21, 1935, Serial No. 2,714

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in parlor baseball games.

Heretofore various types of parlor baseball games have been proposed. These games, however, are dissimilar in many respects from the well-known outdoor pastime in that they usually have too great an element of luck involved and require too little activity on the part of the participants. The present invention contemplates a game wherein the procedure and rules closely follow the outdoor game, and wherein, while anyone can play the game, nevertheless a high degree of skill and technique is required to play the game successfully. The present invention further provides for two or more participants, one or more representing the fielding team and one or more representing the batting team, and the game is so constructed as to require continuous manual and mental activity from all players, to the end that an interesting spirit of competition results.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a parlor baseball game wherein actual batting of a pitched miniature ball is involved, 2 wherein the player representing the batting team actually advances miniature base runners in a manner requiring agility on his part, wherein the batted ball is actually fielded by the players representing the fielding team, and wherein put on are efiected in a manner requiring agility and skill on the part of the fielder in much the same manner as put cuts are effected in the outdoor game.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a game as above described, crank controlled propelling means for miniature base runners, and means responsive to a tap from the fielder after he has retrieved a batted ball for dislodging the base runners from the propelling means to efiect a put out, said dislodgment being possible only when the runner fails to reach the desired base before the ball is retrieved and the put ou mechanism is tapped.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for causing the batted ball to be discharged either as a grounder or as a fly ball, depending upon the manner in which the ball is hit, and means for directing said fly balls to such an elevation as to permit put outs by catching the ball in the air.

A further object of the invention is to provide a parlor baseball game wherein a miniature ball is pitched by means of a plunger and wherein the pitcher may selectively pitch either a ball 5 or a strike.

A further object of the invention is to provide means rendering the fielding of grounders more or less difficult, depending upon how squarely the ball has been hit by the batter.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide in a game as above described, means adjacenthome plate for automatically disengaging a base runner from the propelling means after said runner is safe at home.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved parlor baseball game and ,all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved game; the dot and dash lines indicating the fielders hand as he is effecting a put on Fig. 2 is a plan view of the game with the playing field and top board removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view illustrating the crank controlled mechanism for advancing a base runner;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1, showing a base runner in engagement with the propelling means;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing how the put out mechanism may be operated to effect disengagement of the base runner from the propelling means;

.Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken on line l-1 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational View at the pitching end of the device illustrating the pitching plunger and the adjacent ball control lever.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a suitable box-like body portion which may be of any suitable shape and of any desired material. Within the interior of the body, extending parallel to one side thereof and spaced therefrom, is a vertical partition H to define a pitching channel. A partition [2 divides said channel into two lanes l3 and I4, said partition l2 terminating short of one end of the board as at l5. At the other end the partition 12 is curved as at IE to direct pitched balls at right angles to their original direction of travel. The extreme end of the partition 12 is flanged as at I! to provide a stop for balls pitched in the lane I4, it being apparent, however, that balls pitched in the lane I3 will be directed into the path of a batting plunger I8 which has been 5 withdrawn to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2.

The said plunger I8 is slidable through one side of the body and has an exteriorly accessible knob I9. It is apparent that the knob I9 may 10 be pulled outwardly against the tension of springs 0 nel 24 having diverging branches 25 and 26.

The pitching plunger 21 is slidably supported om a metallic base strip 28 as at 29 and said pitching plunger extends through the adjacent end of the body and is formed with an exteriorly accessible knob 29. The plunger may be withdrawn to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 against the tension of a spring 30 and upon release of the plunger the spring will cause the plate-like inner end 3| to propel a ball 32 placed in the pitching channel.

One end of the base strip 28 is secured to the bottom of the body as at 33 and the other end adjacent the pitching plunger is not secured to the body but is secured to a rod 34 extending therebeneath (see Fig. 7) and said rod is connected to an exteriorly accessible lever 35 (see Figs. 2 and 8). When said lever 35 is held in the downward position against a pin 36 it will cause the base strip 28 to be held in a laterally tilted position so that the pitched ball will be directed into the lane I3 for pitching strikes. If the lever 35 is held in an upward position in engagement with a pin 31, then the base strip 28 will be tipped in the opposite direction (as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7) to direct a ball into the ball lane I4. It is obvious that a ball directed into the ball lane will engage the stop I1 and therefore cannot pass in front of the bat.

The branch 25 of the batting channel 24 is adapted to direct the batted ball through an elbow 38 spirally into a bowl 39 (see Figs. 2 and 4). If the ball has been forcibly and squarely struck, it will continue around the periphery of the bowl 39 and due to wire guards 40 above the periphery of the bowl (see Fig. I). the ball cannot be retrieved until it loses sufficient momentum to pass into the clear central portion of the bowl. Said central portion is formed of wire mesh 4| for the purpose of quickly braking the momentum of the ball.

If the batted ball is directed into the branch 26 of the batting chanel 24 it will pass through an elbow 42 which extends upwardly through the center of the wire mesh M and which has an open upper end 43 from which. the ball is directed into the air. This constitutes a fly ball and enables a player representing the fielding team to endeavor to catch it in the air to' effect a put out.

The interior mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is normally closed by a cover board 44 (see Fig. 1) which supports a playing field 45-. The top of the playing field is spaced above the cover board 44 by side members 46 and the center of the playing field has a circular opening 4'! of approximately the same size as the bowl 39, the before mentioned guard 45 being supported upon the edges of said opening and limiting the efifective size thereof.

An exteriorly accessible crank 48 serves to rotate a shaft 49 which is mounted in bearings 50 carried by the lower side of the cover board 44. The inner end of the shaft has a rigidly mounted bevel gear 5I engaging a bevel gear 52 rigidly mounted on the lower end of a short vertical shaft 53. The upper end of the shaft 53 projects through the cover board and has rigidly mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 54. An endless chain 55 is driven by said sprocket and said chain is movable around pulleys 56 suitably supported at the other three corners of the playing field. The endless conveyor chain 55 has rigidly attached thereto at four equally spaced points, conveyor cups 51.

Miniature base runners may be in the form of wooden pegs 58' the lower ends of which are freely insertible in the cups 5'! and intermediate portions of which are formed with peripheral shoulders 59.

Put out devices 60 are mounted at four equally spaced points on the playing field on pivot rods 6I. Each put out device includes an operating disc portion 62 on one side of the pivot rod and an elongated runner engaging portion 63 on the other side of the pivot rod. The latter portion 63 is approximately two-thirds of the length of one side of the playing field and its en'dstermi nate short of the adjacent bases. The outer edge of the portion 63 overhangs the edge of the playing field as shown in Fig. 5 and when a base I runner 58 is being advanced, the peripheral shoulder 59 thereof normally rides just over the edge of the elongated portion 63. If, however, the end 62 of the put out device is tapped downwardly as shown in Fig. 6, the portion 63 will be quickly elevated to cause'disengagement of the base runner from the holding cup 51.

Adjacent the home plate, see Fig. l, are suitably supported spaced rods 64 which extend upwardly at an incline. propelled toward home plate it will enter between said rods with the peripheral shoulder resting thereabove, and, due to the inclination of the rods, the base runner will be stripped from the holding cup 51 and supported by the rods 64 in a position for further use, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. .1. A projecting strip 64' slightly overlaps the edge of the-holding cups as the latter pass thereunder to hold the cups down as the runners by the inclined rods 64.

In playing the game the person representing the batting team stands adjacent the batting plunger I8 and the person representing the fielding team stands adjacent the pitching plunger 21. The batter withdraws theplunger and holds it in withdrawn position, awaiting delivery of a ball. As before mentioned the pitcher may, through the lever 35, pitch a ball either into the lane I3 for a strike a ball. The idea of pitching in the lane I4 is to try to mislead a batter into striking at a ball which he cannot possibly hit. If a ball is pitched in the lane I3 the batter endeavors to release the plunger I8 at the proper time to hit the ball. If he misses it, it is a strike. If he hits it indirectly so that it fails to emerge either into the bowl or from the tube 43,. it is a foul. If, however, he hits it squarely, it will pass into either of the branches 25 or 26. Im-

As the base runner is are stripped therefrom 1 I or the lane I4 for end of the 40 pitching and batting is done,

10 the ball spins around in the outer guarded periphery. As soon as he picks up the ball he endeavors to tap the put out device between home plate and first base to disengage the runner before he reaches first base or clears the elongated portion 63 of the put on device. If a runner is on his way to second base before he has had an opportunity to pick up the ball he endeavors to tap the put ou device between first base and second base. If a runner is safe at a base the fielder takes the ball and drops it in an opening 65 which leads to the pitching channe. The game is then proceeded with in accordance with the usual rules of base ball. If a runner tries to steal a base after the ball has been dropped into the pitching opening 65 the pitcher may use another ball 66 supported in a convenient position in a cup 61 to attempt to put out the stealing base runner. If more than one person is playing on a side each participant may take his turn at batting, pitching, fielding or advancing basb runners.

Suitable score boards 68 may be mounted on the cover 44.

From the above it may be seen that the game closely simulates the real game of baseball in that unusual activity is required on the part of both players. It will further be seen that the unusual interest results from the fact that actual from the fact that advancing base runners may be put out through the use of the very novel put on devices, from the fact that the batted ball may result either in a grounder or in a fiy ball 45 which may be caught while in the air, and from the fact that the pitching may be controlled in such a manner as to selectively result in balls or strikes.

Although only one form of the invention has 50 been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner, means for propelling said runner around said bases, and means positioned between bases for disengaging a runner from 0 said propelling means to effect a put out when the runner is within the range of said means and before said runner reaches a base.

2. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner, an endless conveyor having 5 runner receiving means thereon for propelling the base runner around said bases, and means positioned between bases for disengaging a runner from said receiving means to effect a put out when the runner is within the range of said 7 disengaging means and before said runner reaches a base.

3. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner, means for propelling said runner around said bases, and a fulcrumed lever 75 having a manually operable end responsive to a downward force to cause its other end to disengage said runner from said propelling means to effect a put ou 4. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner, means for propelling said runner around said bases, and a fulcrumed lever having a manually operable end and having its other end elongated and positioned between bases for disengaging a runner from said propelling means to effect a put out when the runner is within the range of said elongated end.

5. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner comprising a peg having an intermediate shoulder thereon, means for removably receiving the lower end of said peg and for propelling it around said bases, and means engageable with said shoulder of the peg for disengaging it from the receiving means to effect a put ou 6. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner, means for propelling said runner around said bases, and means adjacent home plate for automatically vertically disengaging said runner from said propelling means after said runner has completed the circuit of the field.

'7. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner comprising a peg having an intermediate shoulder thereon, means for propelling said runner around said bases, and means adjacent home plate for automatically engaging said shoulder of the base runner to disengage the latter from the propelling means when the base runner has completed the circuit around the bases.

8. In a baseball game, a pitching channel, means for dividing said channel into two lanes, one adapted to cause the pitching of strikes" and the other adapted to cause the pitching of balls, means for shooting a ball in said channel, and means for causing the ball to be directed in a predetermined lane.

9. In a baseball game, a pitching channel, means for dividing said channel into two lanes, one adapted to cause the pitching of strikes and the other adapted to cause the pitching of balls", means for shooting a ball in said channel, and means for laterally tilting the bottom of the channel to cause the ball to be directed in a predetermined lane.

10. In a baseball game, movable batting mechanism, means for pitching a ball toward said batting mechanism, a bowl, means for directing a batted ball into said bowl and for causing the ball to spin around the periphery of the bowl, and means in the center of the bowl formed to retard the momentum of the ball.

11. In a baseball game, movable batting mechanism, means for pitching a ball toward said batting mechanism, a bowl, and a channel for receiving a batted ball and having a plurality of branches leading to said bowl for directing the ball in different manners into the bowl.

12. In a baseball game, movable batting mechanism, means for pitching a ball toward said batting mechanism, a bowl, and a channel for receiving a batted ball and having a plurality of branches leading to said bowl for directing the ball in different manners into the bowl, one of said branches being constructed to cause the ball to spin around the periphery of the bowl and the other of said branches being constructed to cause the ball to pass through the bottom of the bowl and into the air.

13. In a baseball game, movable batting mechanism, means for pitching a ball toward said batting mechanism, and means for directing a batted ball into the air at a sufl'icient elevation to permit catching while in the air.

14. In a baseball game, a playing fieldhaving bases, a base runner, means with which said runner is detachably engageable for propelling the runner around the bases, andmeans for forcibly throwing said runner fromsaid propelling means.

15. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner, means with which said runner is detachably engageable for propelling the runner around the bases, and a lever responsive to a momentary manual impact for forcibly throwing said runner from said. propelling means.

16. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, 2. base runner having a peg portion, means for removably receiving said peg portion and for propelling the runner around said bases, and means engageable with a portion of the .runner for disengaging the peg portion thereof from the receiving means to effect a put out".

17. In a baseball game, a playing field having bases, a base runner having a peg portion, means for propelling said runner around the basescomprising an endless conveyor having a cup thereon within, which the peg portion is removably re ceived, and means engageable with a portion of the runner for disengaging the peg portion thereof from the cup to efiect a put out.

18. In a baseball game, pitching mechanism, movable batting mechanism normally engageable with a pitched ball to direct the latter in a horizontal plane,- and other means cooperable with the ball after the same has been struck by the batting mechanism for directing said ball into the air at a sufiicient elevation to permit catching while in the air.

19. In a baseball game, a ball, movable batting mechanism engageable with said ball, a playing field toward which the batted ball is directed, means in connection with said playing field positionedto cooperate with only some of the batted balls to cause said batted balls to fly into the air at a suflicient elevation to permit catching, said means being so positioned that other batted balls are not afiected thereby.

GEORGE FREDERICK REICHEL. 

